Apparatus for operating switches.



o; 834.168. V PATENTED OCT. 23,.1906.

N. SILVE'RSON.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED APR-13 1906.

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No 834,168. PATBNTED 001'; '23, 190 N. SILVBRSON. APPARATUS FOR OPERATING s w ron-ss. APPLIOATI ON FILED APR.13. 1906,

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v with 063% M .r 7 Yu w o m z m m y 2 Wm a W 1 w 5. y Q0 ,0 Z o r w mx 0 NATHAN SILVERSON,

or NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATENG SWITCHES- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 23, 1906.

Application filed April 13, 1906. Serial No. 311,565.

-To all whmn it may concern:

Beit known. that I, NATH:AN SILVERsON, of

New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Operating Switches; and I do hereby deelare the following to be a full, clear, and exact'description of the invention, such as w1ll enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide an improvement in that class of switch-see ing devices for street-railway cars in which the switch is automatically shifted by mech-- anism actuated. by the approaching car, thusavoiding the necessity for switch attendantsor for the motorman delaying his car while operating the switch.

7 Broadly stated, the invention contemplates a system of levers connecting the movable switch-rails to a contact device arranged in advance of the switch and intermediate the rails. A roller carried by the car and under the control of the motorman is designed to engage the contact device and shift the movable rails.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set.

forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the" accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a railway-track equipped with a switch-controlling mechanism in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing a pair of contact devices and their connection to the switch-rails. Fig. 3 illustrates means carried by a car and under the control of the operator for actuating the contact devices. Fig. 4 is a section on line X X, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line 5 5, Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and 7 are details.

Referringto the drawings, 1 designates-the the housing, as by a pin 7, holding it in pivotal engagement with a bracket 8. The other arm 9 of the bell-crank lever is pivoted to a toggle 10. This toggle extends beneath the ground through a suitable conduit to a point sufiiciently in advance of theswitch, where it is connected to the forward contact device 12. As shown, these contact devices 12 and 12 comprise housings or casings. 13 and contact portions 14, movable vertically therein; the contact portions being formed with curved upper surfaces 15 and having depending arms 16 intermediate guides 17 of the housing. These guides are shown as transverse rollers and the arms as movable freely be tween them.

Secured to one of the inner walls of the housing 13 is a vertically-disposed bell-crank lever 18, whose lower arm 19 is pivoted to toggle 10. The upper arm 20 is designed to engage the vertically-movable contact portion 1 1 and as an appropriate construction I have shown the contact member provided with a web or bridge 21 intermediate of and secured to the arms 16. The bridge is disposed transversely of the plane of the bell-crank 18, and

at its central portion it is shown formed with a notch or recess 22, designed to be engaged by the notched or recessed portion 23 in. the upper arm 20 of the bell-crank. The recess 23-is sufliciently wide to permit the movement of its arm upon the contact member being depressed Without causing friction or binding. As a further means of preventing binding of the parts I have shown a pair of arms 24, pivoted to the movable contact member, preferably on the inner faces of the arms 16, and I having their free edges resting on a ledge 25 at the side of the housing when the contact member is depressed, grooves or notches 26 in the end 27 of the latter accommodating the arms when the contact member is in this position. These arms project beyond the end 27 and contact at their extremities with the wall 28 of the housing. When the movable contact member is depressed by a car moving in the direction of arrow A, Fig. 1, the tendency is to push the contact member toward wall 28, which might cause friction by binding. This is prevented by the arms 24, which in moving over their centers hold the movable contact member away from the housing-wall 28.

I haveshown the contact device equipped with a latch 29, ivoted to a face of the web or bridge 21 and having a hook-shaped extremity 30, designed to engage upper arm 20 of the bell-crank 18, and thus lock the bellcrank and movable member together. The shank of this latch extends into an opening 31 in the top of the contact member and terminates about flush with the top surface thereof. By means of a wedge or block this latch may be held so as to lock the parts together, as under ordinary circumstances. When, however, it is desired to gain access to the interior of the contact device, the wedge.

is removed, permitting the latch to be opened and rendering the web or bridge 21 removable from arm of the bell-crank, wheretheir lower arms 19 by a link 32.

In Fig. 3 I have shown appropriate means, designed to be carried by a car, by which the contact devices may be operated. A frame 33, depending from the bottom 34 of a car, supports a vertically-movable element carrying a roller 35 at its lower end. This element is shown as comprising a pair of paral lel plates 36, movable in a bearing 37 of the frame and having the roller journaled between them. A spring 38, secured to one of the plates and to a cross-arm of the frame,

' tends to hold the plates elevated and the roller out of contact with the ground. By means of a lever 39, pivoted to the frame and to the plates, the latter may be lowered. A hand or foot device 40 on the car, under the control of the driver or motorman and connected to lever 39 by a chain 41, serves as an appropriate means of operating the roller device.

It is desirable when used on cars which may be operated at either end that the described roller device be located at about the center of the car-body, in which event lever 39 will be duplicated, as at 42, lever 42 being connected and operated at the other end of the car similar to lever 39. When, however, the roller device is used at only one end of the car, it is obvious that a single lever will sufiice and that the operating means may be suitably changed, if necessary.

The operation of a switch controlling mechanism embodying my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description. Assuming the constructlon of the switch-rails 3 to be such that they will be closed so as to direct a car over the branch tracks 2 when the parts are in the positions indicated in Fig. 2, the operator of a car moving in the direction of arrow A and intended for travel over the branch line first notes the position of the switch, and if it be open he operates the roller device to depress contact member 12, as shown. This closes the switch and causes contact member 12 to rise. After passing contact device 12 the operator raises the roller 35, so that it will not contact with contact device 12. The operator of the following car or cars intended for the same directionthat is, over the branch lineiinding the switch in the proper position need not operate the switch at all; but an operator of a following car not intended for the branch line, but for continuous travel along the main line 1, lowers roller 35 of his car to depress contact device 12, which causes toggle 10 and link 32 to shift, reversing the relative positions of the contact members and opening the switch. Consequently it will be a very simple matter for motormen to understand that in order for their cars to be directed over the branch line contact device 12 must be depressed and to continue along the main line contact device 12 must be depressed. It will be noted that when the roller 35 begins to move up over the curved top of a movable contact member the latter is pushed or shifted toward wall 28 of its housing, which would cause its end. 27 to bind against the housing-wall but for arms 24. These, as described, are of such length that they extend beyond end 27 into contact with wall 28. Consequently when the contact is depressed the arms 24 in assuming a horizontal disposition pass over their centers and prevent the end 27 from contacting with wall 28.

The space between the two contact devices may be sufficient to give ample oppor .tunity for the operator depressing only one of the contact devices. In practice the weight of the parts and the fit of the bellcranks 6 and 18 in their bearings are such that the contact devices will not readily operate by light pressure upon them. My invention is primarily designed for overheadtrolley cars, and. to that end I have shown the mechanism intermediate the tracks. It is obvious, however, that the invention will be well adapted to underground-trolley systems where it may readily be installed without interfering with the wiring in the conduits.

I claim as my invention 1. In a switch-operating means for cars, a contact device in advance of the switch comprising a stationary housing equipped with guides, a contact member movable in said housing intermediate said guides, means for supporting said contact member, means for locking said supporting means to said contact member, connections between said supporting means and the movable switch-rails, and means carried by a car and designed to engage said contact member.

1 orming guides, a contact member vertically movable in said housing intermediate and in engagement with said rollers, means for supporting said contact member, connections between said supporting means and the movable switch-rails, and means carried by a car and designed to engage said contact member.

3. In a switch-operating means for cars, a contact device in advance of the switch comprising a stationary housing having rollers forming guides, a contact member vertically movable in said housing intermediate said rollers and in engagement therewith, means for supporting said contact member, means carried by said contact member for locking the latter to said supporting means and designed upon being released to permit the wlthdrawal of said contact member from said housing, connections between said supporting means and the movable switch-rails, and means carried by a car and designed to engage said contact member.

4. In a switch-operating means for cars, a contact device in advance of the switch comprising a stationary housing equipped with guides, a contact member movable in said housing and having depending arms 1ntermediate said guides, aweb connecting said arms,

a bell-crank lever vertically disposed. and pivotally mounted in said housing transversely of said web. and designed 'to engage the latter, means connecting said bell-crank lever with the movable switch-rails, and means carriedbya car and designed to engage said contact member.

5. In a switch-operating means for cars, a contact device in advance of the switch comprising a stationary housing equipped with guides, a contact member movable in sa d housing and having depending arms intermediate said guides, a web connecting said arms, a bell-crank lever vertically disposed and pivotally mounted in said housing transversely of said web and designed to engage the latter, a latch pivoted to said web and having a hooked extremity designed to engage said bell-crank lever and hold it in engagement with said web, toggles connecting said bell-crank lever' with the movable switchrails, and means carried by a car for engaging said contact member.

6. In a switch-operating means for cars, a contact device in advance of the switch comprising a housing, a contact member vertically movable therein, means connecting said contact member with the movable switchrails, means carried by a car for depressing said contact member, and means for maintaining said contact member out of engagement with the walls of said housing in its vertical movement. I

7. In a switch-operating means for cars, a

contact device in advance of the switch comprising a housing", a contact member verti- .cally movable therein, means connecting said contact member with the movable switchrails, means carried by a car for depressing said contact member, and antifriction means on said contact member comp-rising arms pivoted thereto and extending beyond the end thereof into engagement with said housing, as set forth.

8. In a switch-operating means for cars, a

contact device in advance of the switch comprising a housinghaving guides and a ledge, a contact member vertically movable in said housing, means connecting said contact memher with the movable switch-rails, means carried by a car for depressing said contact member, said contact member having depending portions movable in engagement with said guides, and antifriction means carried by said contact member comprising arms pivoted to said dependin portions and extending beyond the end 0 said contact member into engagement with said housing and designed to have their free ends supported by said ledge.

9. In a switch-operating means for cars, two contact devices in advance of the switch each comprising a housing, movable contact members therein, and vertically-disposed bell-crank levers, a link connecting the lower arms of said bell-cranks, said bell-c1 anks being disposed oppositely to each other, and having their upper arms removably secured to their respective contact members, means for locking said arms to said contact members, connections between the bell-crank of the forward contact device and the movable switch-rails, and means carried by a car for operating one or the other of said contact members.

10. In a switch-operating means for cars, two contact devices in advance of the switch each comprising a housing, movable contact members therein, and vertically-disposed bell-crank levers, a link connecting the lower arms of said bell-cranks, said bell-cranks being disposed oppositely to each other, and having their upper arms removably secured to their respective contact members, means for locking said arms to said contact members, a switch-bar secured to the movable switch-rails, a casing adjacent said rails into which said switch-bar extends, a bell-crank pivotally mounted in said casing, to one arm of which said bar is pivotally secured, a toggle pivoted to the other arm of said bellcrank and to the lower arm of the bell-crank of the forward contact device, and means carried by a car for operating one or the other of said contact members.

11. In a switch-operating means for cars, two contact devices in advance of the switch 1 each comprising a housing, movable contact &

members therein, and verticallydisposed bell-crank levers, a link connecting the lower arms of said bell-cranks, said bell-cranks being disposed oppositely to each other, and having their upper arms in engagement with their respective contact members, a switchbar secured to the movable switch-rails, a casing adjacent said rails into which said switch-bar extends, a bell-crank pivotally mounted in said casing, to one arm of which i said switch-bar is pivotally secured, a toggle pivoted to the other arm of said bell-crank and to the lower arm of the bell-crank of the forward contact device, and means carried by a car for operating one or the other of said contact members.

12.- The combination with the contact devices arranged in advance of a switch and means connecting them with the movable switch-rails, of operating means carried by a car comprising a frame having guides or bearings, a pair of plates secured together and movable in said guides or bearings, a roller journaled between the outer extremities of said plates, a lever pivoted to said frame and secured to said plates, and means for operating said lever.

13. The combination with the contact de vices arranged in advance of a switch and means connecting them with the movable switch rails, of operating means carried by a car comp rising a frame having guides or bearings, two plates secured together and vertically movable in said guides or bearings, a roller journaled between the outer extremities 01' said plates, a spring having one end secured to said plates and the other to said frame, a lever pivoted to said frame and secured to said plates, mechanism under the control of the car-operator, and connections between said lever and said mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses NATHAN SILVERSON.

Witnesses:

GRAFTON L. MGGILL, ALron D. LIND. 

